1. Don Parson's brief background: How long he's been in the county, family, interests, etc.
Parsons has spent four years on Dillon's town council (two as mayor pro tem) - he was introduced to community issues while serving two years on the Planning and Zoning Commission. He's been a Dillon property owner since 1977, and he's lived full time in Dillon since 2003.
Parsons retired from Kaiser Permanente in 2001- he began working for the health care company as a surgeon in 1973. Since then, he's dedicated much of his time to health policy and public health issues, as well as numerous boards and projects.
In his free time, Parsons skis (downhill and Nordic), snowshoes, hikes, bikes, and swims daily. His daughter, Amy Wineland, works as a public health nurse in Summit County. He has two other children - both lawyers. One lives in Loveland and the other in Southern California.

2. What is the main reason you want to be mayor?
Parsons said his desire to be Dillon's mayo

**Only Home Games Listed**

Monday, March 8
Dillon Valley Elementary
Monday Morning Assembly, Parent Coffee, 8:55 am.
Summit High School
IBMYP Personal Projects Presentation, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 9
Upper Blue Elementary
Board of Education, 5:30 p.m.
Summit High School
PTSO Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 10
Silverthorne Elementary
PTA Meeting, 4 p.m.
Summit High School
BAAC, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday, March 11
Breckenridge Elementary
BAAC, 4 p.m.
Frisco Elementary
BAAC, 4:15 pm.
Silverthorne Elementary
Parent Coffee, 8:15 am.
Summit Middle School
Wrestling 4 pm., Gymnastics at SMS
Summit High School
Girls Soccer vs. Battle Mountain, 4 p.m.
Boys Swim and Dive, 5 p.m.

Saturday, March 13
Summit High School
Girls Lacrosse 11 a.m.

SUMMIT COUNTY - County services could potentially suffer from Dillon Urban Renewal Authority's impending tax siphoning, yet Lake Dillon Fire Protection District, Summit County's government and the Summit School District remain mostly supportive of the concept. Still, some concerns remain over the tax increment financing (TIF) aspect of the redevelopment plan.
"It sounds like people think (urban renewal) will help," said county manager Gary Martinez. "If this improves the business climate in those areas, it's good for the whole county."
Martinez also said he likes the concept of redeveloping existing areas, instead of open land found between the four towns.
"I don't want endless development up and down corridors," he added.
Even so, a main concern about urban renewal stems from Dillon Urban Renewal Authority's (DURA) potentially lessening revenues to other agencies that rely on taxes to fund countywide services.

How does TIF work?
Dill

COPPER - A group of 10 people from Boulder to Glenwood Springs met at a residence in Copper on Saturday to share ideas toward bringing universal, single-payer health care to Colorado.
As the debate in Washington, D. C. drags on, Coloradans are working to gain momentum on a local level.
And while people with the Tea Party movement rally against government expansion, the group meeting Saturday considers government as a viable solution to health care.
Dr. Don Parsons, a Dillon council member running for mayor, likened the health care situation to the Indian story of a group of blind men touching an elephant to learn about it. Each touches only one part and draws an assumption - concluding it's like a wall, snake or tree - depending on which part they contact.
"If they haven't had the opportunity to (deal) with an insurance company for major expenses, they think they have great care," Parsons said of Americans.
There are also perspective

DILLON - Before Dillon can tackle its Corinthian Hills summer road reconstruction project, it must complete work done last season on Tenderfoot Street and Gold Run Circle.
Town engineer Dan Burroughs said the town will be working on Gold Run Circle in April and May, Tenderfoot Street in May and June, and work on Corinthian Circle will span July through September. He hopes the whole project will be completed Oct. 1.
Dillon's staff was unable to finish last year's road project due to legal action taken by Yacht Club Condominiums over parking issues. After getting a temporary injunction on construction last past spring, the homeowner's association couldn't block the project (though it was delayed significantly), so instead they pursued legal action. The case went to court in January, but District Court Judge Terry Ruckriegle hasn't announced his ruling yet.
The Yacht Club condo complex - located at the corner of Gold Run Circle and Tenderfoot

SUMMIT COUNTY - Both live electronic and in-person forums for local town council candidates are scheduled this month as the April 6 elections approach.
The in-person forums are to occur at town halls March 17 in Frisco, March 18 in Breckenridge and Silverthorne and March 23 in Dillon.
The Summit Daily is hosting electronic forums through its website March 24 for Dillon, March 25 for Breckenridge, March 31 for Frisco and April 1 for Silverthorne.
Users will be able to submit questions in the chat-room-style forum. More information will be available in the coming weeks.
- Robert Allen

The Schedule
March 24 7-9 PM: Dillon Candidate Forum

March 25 7-9 PM: Breckenridge Candidate Forum

March 31 7-9 PM: Frisco Candidate Forum

April 1 7-9 PM: Silverthorne Candidate Forum

Dillon Candidate Forum Reminder

Breckenridge Candidate Forum Reminder

Frisco Candidate Forum Reminder

Silverthorne Candidate Forum Reminder

DILLON - Dillon's water and sewer costs aren't covered by its revenues, so council members tentatively approved rate hikes at Tuesday's town meeting. To make the rate change official, a second approval is needed.
Town manager Devin Granbery said council will take a second look at the proposal and host public comment during the March 16 town meeting - it starts at 6 p.m.
Dillon's town staff say they need to increase rates to maintain the water and sewer fund into the future. This includes funding for operation, maintenance and capital projects.
Town treasurer Carrie McDonald said that necessary capital improvements - like a water storage tank, the Old Dillon Reservoir and "membrane replacement" at the treatment plant - have been put off because they town simply can't afford it now.
A rate study was recently completed by consultants from Red Oak to address these issue, and it's now available at Dillon's t